The reality behind the millions of pounds of funding cuts to Surrey's fire service is beginning to come to the surface according to industry representatives.

Representing the county's fire fighters and non-uniformed staff, a union officer has revealed the immense pressure crews endure, including stress related illnesses and a "dangerous" reduction of staff and resources.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) secretary, Lee Belsten has branded Surrey as the county with the lowest number of fire service staff per head count of population.

He argues the service is "dangerously close to the mark" and if Surrey County Council (SCC)'s funding cuts continue, frontline response and emergency control resources will be "decimated".

However a SCC spokesman said it has "carried out a recruitment campaign and are making a significant investment to our new fire stations, equipment and vehicles to meet the needs of a modern fire service."

Since 2010 £20 million has been saved from the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) budget and the cuts haven't stopped there - an additional £661,000 is expected to be saved this year alone.

According to SCC's Medium Term Financial Plan, savings of £4.075 million and £1.8 million are expected in 2019 and 2020 respectively.

Almost one year to the date, firefighters across the county declared a motion of no confidence in the county council's fire authority.

But what has changed? Apparently, not much.

FBU secretary, Lee Belsten told Surrey Live that almost 12 months since the union declared lives could be in danger due to dwindling funds, SCC has failed to address numerous issues.

He argues crew and non-uniformed staff have "a complete lack of faith and confidence in SCC's ability to govern a formally well respected 21st century fire and rescue service."

Surrey is the county with the lowest number of fire service staff per head count of population (Image: Steve Porter/Surrey Advertiser)

'Enough is enough'

"It’s taken a year for the penny to drop," said Mr Belsten.

"Surrey fire has played its part in helping achieve savings to help SCC out of the financial disaster they got themselves in to, but enough is enough.

"Surrey fire has been dangerously close to the mark since 2014 and if SCC continues its purge of SFRS and continues to decimate the frontline response and emergency control resources, then lives will be lost."

If funding continues to be reduced, the FBU demands that the the fire authority, governed by SCC must freeze all planned savings or give up its governance.

"The firefighters demand that the fire authority halt all planned cuts to SFRS, reinstates a fit for purpose budget in agreement with the FBU to restore an adequate level of safety and resilience for the public and fire fighters," he said.

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The figures

The number of firefighters in Surrey has dwindled from 378 in 2010 to 214 in 2018 - that's 204 less crew than there should be, argues Mr Belsten.

The fire authority's safety plan states by 2020 all fire engines will be crewed by five fire fighters - the number remains at four.

In fact, all of Surrey’s fire stations are below 20 firefighters, with four to five operational posts vacant at the majority of those stations.

Overall, there are 70 vacant posts across whole-time stations, crew are frequently up to 15 fire fighters short and response time remains up to 10% under the target agreed in SCC's safety plan.

Meanwhile on-call crew are 40% deficient compared to the safety plan's guidance and staffing reductions have also been made to the emergency control team.

Surrey is the county with the lowest number of fire service staff per head count of population

The latter is up to 50% short on shifts and further reductions are planned but are now under review following a formal dispute.

According to Mr Belsten, employment numbers recorded in the plan are "way off mark" because staffing has "been allowed to diminish without any regard to the safety of the public and its fire fighters."

According to SCC it has made "a significant investment to our new fire stations, equipment and vehicles to meet the needs of a modern fire service."

The impact

"Fire engines are continually being removed or not crewed at all, due to a deficit of 70 plus firefighters from the whole-time crew. This is not backed up by the unavailability of on-call stations either," Mr Belsten said.

This has led to frontline fire engines being left 'off the run' due to low establishment and increased pressure on on-call staff to cover whole-time stations.

There's also been a 66% decrease in the number of fire protection audits carried out which ensure properties comply with fire safety regulations.

"Our staff feel under immense pressure to cover shifts, over and above their current contractual hours," Mr Belsten continued.

"Many times pressures go above and beyond have led to stress related illnesses, which has resulted in periods of unplanned absence, compounding the under establishment issue greatly."